Valve closed container



Nov. 4, 1947. R, M, BERGLUND j l 2,429,984

VALVE CLOSED CONTAINER Filed' Aug. 2s, 1944 VENTOR.

Patented Nov. .4, 1947 .l y 2,429,984 I.

VALVE CLOSED CONTAINER Ralph M. Bergland, Seattle, Wash., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application August 23, 1944, Serial No. 550,745

` claims. (o1. 22o-44) This invention relates to vent-type containers for food and the like and has particular reference to a, yieldable relief valve molded to aiV per-4 forated wall of a can to be used with `containers filled with products which develop gases, the valve permitting the escape oi' such gases through a vent opening while at the Sametime preventing the ingress of air into the canned product.

An object of the invention is the provision of a yieldable escape valve which may be molded in the perforate wall of a can, forexample in the* wall of an end and in a position overlying a vent opening, to secure the valve to the can end by elastic threads extended through th perforations, such an end being adapted for -use in cans filled with cheese and the like in which there will be a temporary venting of excess gases generated within the filled can. f

Another object is the provision of a yieldable vent valve for can ends including a disc of rubber and a ring of rubber located on opposite walls thereof vand joined together by threads of rubber passing through a plurality of spaced perforations in the can end and surrounding a centrally disposed vent opening, the threads of rubber being stretched by developed gas pressure within the filled can to lift the valve disc for releasing the -gases through the vent opening and between the stretched threads.

A further object is the provision of such a valve which is formed as a unit in a perforated panel of a can end and which panel thereafter is reformed in the region between the vent opening gas barrier ln the can end, such reformation imparting an initial tension in or a preloading of the valve to increase the yield point'of pressure at which the valve will release gas from` the product inclosed within a sealed can of which the valve is a part.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a'container embodying the present invention, showing a relief valve in its normally closed position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the central portion of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, with the valve lifted to an open or gas releasing position; y

- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan'view of the container with parts broken away and with partsl of the valve in section; i

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modiiied form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 vshowing the valve of the .modied form lifted to an open position during the venting of gases. e

In the practice of canning foods, products such as cheese and the like are frequently packed in sheet metal cans and allowed to age or ripen while sealed therein. Durin-g this aging or ripening process gases, especially carbon dioxide, are

formed. These gases accumulate within the sealed container and create an excess internal pressure. Illnless the pressure is relieved, the walls of the can are bulged outwardly and the pressure may even cause straining -or breaking of the seams or joints of the can.y l

`Hence a relief or escapement valve has been found to be desirable and indeed necessary to vent such excess internal pressure but at the same time the canned product must not be subjected to the ingress oi air.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drawings illustrate a sheet metal can comprising a tubular body II which may be of desired size or shape. A top can end I2 issecured to the upper end of the body II infan endseam.l3. This seam is of the conventional double seam form being lined with a gasket or sealing compound to render it hermetic.

The can end I2 is formed with a depressed panel I|4 having a raised central Wall part I5 which preferably is spaced belowthe top edge of the end seam I3. The wall part I5 has a cen-v trally disposed vent opening I6 surrounded by a plurality of spaced perforations -I 1 which are concentric with the ventk opening l (Fig. 3).

The exterior surface of the wall part I5 provides a valve seat for a yieldable relief or escape valve I8. Such a Valve is madeof rubber or simi.- lar yieldable material which preferably is molded into shape and in position directly on the wall part I5 of the can end I2 preparatory to seaming the end to the body I I.

The valve I8 comprises a disc-like member 22 having a dome shape exterior andv adapted to overlie the vent opening I6 and also the perforations I1. Valve I8 also includes a ring of rubber 23 which is located on the opposite surface or interior wall of the panel. This ring of rubber preferably is formed with a semi-circular cross section (Figs. 1 and 2). The ring 23 covers the perforations I'I on the inside of the can (see also Fig. 3).

4 other products which develop gases, the combination of a can end having a vent opening and a 1 plurality of spaced perforations surrounding the perforations I1, each neck passing through and completely filling its perforation. The rubber necks 24 form connecting parts between and are preferably integrally formed with both the dome shaped member 22 and the rubber ring 23,

The valve I8 preferably is prepared as a unit part of a can end top I2 prior to `ioining such an end with the can body. This includes molding the valve i3 in place on the perforated panel i4 and this may be done while the wall part IB is flat. This wall part thereafter is reformed in the region betweenthe vent opening le and the perforations i1 by being pressed preferably into an annular ridge 25 to provide a gas barrier (Fig. 2)

The pressing of the ridge 25 againstnand into the valve part 22 sets up an initial tension in the rubber. This is referred to as a preloading of' the valve. The amount'of preloading may be varied by a change in the height of such a ridge or different shapes of barrier may be used, the shape shown inAFlgs. 1, 2 and 3 being preferred.

It will be understood that a greater preloading of the valve I8 increases the yield point of pressure at which 'such a valve will release gas from the product inclosed within the sealed can. Figure 2 illustrates the disc member 22 of the Valve as it is lifted into open position as l,by the internal gas pressure which obviously at such atime exceeds the predetermined, preloaded valve pressure setting. Arrows, marked A, indicate the path of travel of the escaping gases. Such gases pass through the vent opening I6 and above the gas barrier 25 escaping outwardly around and between the spaced rubber necks 24. It will be observed that at such a time the valve disc 22 is arched sufficiently to clear the top of the ridge 25 and the threads 24 are stretched so that there is a passage to the outside atmosphere under not only the center but also under the periphery of the valve disc 22.

Following the venting of the excess internal gases from the can that is, when the relieved pressure drops to the preloaded-release point, the valve I8 closes. down onto the ridge or gas barrier 25 into its initial position again sealing the vent opening IB and the prodt within the can. As further ripening of the product takes place, repeated valve action occurs and venting of gases continues. J

Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate a slightly modified form of the invention. All the details of this modified form are the same as those of the preferred embodiment just described with the exception of the preloading feature. The preloading elements of the modified valve include an annular raised or inclined control edge or flange 21 terminating in and surrounding the vent opening I6. Such an edge is flared and is embedded in the molded valve part 22 as shown in Fig. 4, Fig. showing the venting position.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

opening, said end further having an annular ridge located between the opening and said perforations, and avalve united to the can end and overlapping said vent opening and closely fitting said ridge'on the exterior of the container, integral portions of said valve extending through and filling the perforations and covering the latter on opposite sides of the can end with a preloaded pressure created by the formation of said annular ridge subsequent to the formation of said valve, said valve being outwardly yieldable under the pressure of gases evolving from the can product to uncover and escape through the vent opening and thence over said ridge thus also exposed, said released gases thereafter escaping between the spaced filledV perforations when the valve isy spaced perforations surrounding said opening,

and a valve united to the can end and overlapping said vent opening on the exterior of the container, integral portions of said valve extending through and filling the perforations, said valve thereby covering said perforations on opposite sides of the can end with a preloaded pressure in part created. by said outwardly flared flange, the said The valve member 22 presses f construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a container for preserving cheese and valve being outwardly yieldable under` the pressure of gases evolving from the canned product to uncover and escape through the vent opening and thence between the spaced filled perforations whenthe valve is lifted at a predetermined gaseous pressure.

3. In a container for preserving cheese and other products which develop gases, the combination of a can end having a central vent opening and a plurality of spaced perforations surrounding the opening, and a resilient valve disposed on the exterior of the cank end to seal'said container by overlapping said vent opening and said perforations, said valve having integral neck portions extending through and lling said perforations, an integral ring portion of said valve connecting with said neck portions and covering said perforations on the interior of the can end for sealing the perforations and for holding the valve in place on the can end, said valve being yieldable joutwardly ata predetermined pressure of gases evolving from the product within the container and exerted through the Vent opening to lift said valve to thereby allow the gases to escape between the valve neck vportions between said perforations.

4. In a container for preserving cheese and other products which develop gases, the combination of a can end having a centrally disposed vent opening and a plurality of clrcumferentially arranged perforations surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from said opening, and a yieldable valve normally covering said vent opening exteriorly thereof and substantially flush therewith, integral portions of said valve also extending through said perforations to fill the latter and imite the valve to the can end, said valve being outwardly yieldable away from the can end under pressure of gases from the canned product, said gases escaping through the vent opening and thence around and beneath the periphery of the valve between the filled perforations when the valve is lifted by said gas pressure.

5. In a container for preserving cheese and other products which develop gases, the combination of a can end having a centrally disposed vent opening and a plurality of spaced' perforations surrounding the opening in radially spaced relation thereto, and a valve united-to the can end andV normally overlapping said vent opening on the exterior of the container, integral portions of said valve extending through and lling the perforations and merging into an integral ring portion engaging and covering said perforations on the inner surface of said can end, saidv valve being outwardly yieldable away from the can end under a predetermined pressure of gases evolving from the canned product within the container, thereby uncovering said vent opening to permit said gases to escape through the vent opening and thence radially outwardly between the spaced lled perforations when the valve is lifted by said predetermined gas pressure.

RALPH M. BERGLUND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

